Market forces

Time to check out Burberry?

Is the slowdown spreading to the luxury-goods market? Fashion brand Burberry should provide the answer this week when it reports annual figures. The company, headed by Angela Ahrendts and famous for its check design, was knocked at Christmas when it said it could miss profits targets, but confidence was restored last month following a bullish trading statement. The bears worry that sales in London and New York could be hit by job losses in financial services. But demand from petro-dollar regions, from Dallas to Dubai, is soaring thanks to a sky-high oil price, so the downside is probably limited.

These johnnies aren't rotten

If you are looking around for recession-proof companies, look no further than SSL International, maker of Durex condoms and Scholl sandals. The firm trumped full-year forecasts and said it would continue to deliver double-digit sales and profit growth - not many groups can say that these days.

It's for you, Vittorio

Vodafone boss Arun Sarin is getting fed up with being asked when he plans to leave the company he has headed since 2003. But that won't stop the question being asked again this week when the mobile phone giant reports figures for 2007. Informants say that Vittorio Colao, deputy chief executive since 2006, is being groomed for the position, which is expected to become vacant by the end of the year, although company sources played down the idea that Sarin was on his way out. Well, they would, wouldn't they?

It's grim up Northern

Northern Foods is closing a factory, with the loss of 700 jobs, after refusing to accept terms for a new contract to supply ready meals to Marks & Spencer. That is terrible news for the workforce, but demonstrates that there is a limit to how hard retailers can squeeze suppliers. It also shows that Stefan Barden, Northern's chief executive, is prepared to turn away unprofitable business whatever the human cost - much to the delight of investors.